By 1934 Wynne Gibson had more than fulfilled the faith that Paramount had shown in her when in 1932, after an impassioned plea for better pictures, they reversed the decision to drop her. But with the arrival of Mae West there was really only room for one brassy dame with a heart of gold - very occasionally Gibson's flinty dames showed a soft side (ie "Ladies of the Big House"), so Wynne was let go. Universal saw potential and instantly put her in the off beat "The Crosby Case" that experimented with a mosaic of flashbacks and flat cuts. When "Citizen Kane" was released seven years later those same innovations were labeled as new and exciting but back in 1933 Preston Sturge's "The Power and the Glory" experimented with stream of consciousness and exciting visuals. Other films hopped on the band wagon but the only studios willing to take a chance were the smaller ones or independents - "The Sin of Norah Moran" may be Majestic's most innovative film.
"The Crosby Case" opens much like Wynne's earlier "The Crime of the Century" (1933) - a man staggers down the street, a quack doctor with a bullet in his body - but who is guilty?? The victim is Dr. Crosby, a shady medico who is more familiar with mal practice suits than actually practicing - there are veiled allusions that he may be an abortionist and a drug dealer, as later a patient confesses (guiltily) that he needs his "medicine"!! and at only 59 minutes it packs a lot of punch!!
The cast list appears in a novel way with stars given the billing of "Suspect One", "Suspect Two" etc. Could it be the confused cabby (Warren Hymmer) who almost runs him down? Maybe it is Crosby's mistress, Lynne Ashton (Gibson) who is hot footing it out of town with all her jewels ("they weren't worth it"!!) or even her guilty looking best friend (Barbara Weeks) or is it Francis Graham (handsome Onslow Stevens) an aviator and former flame of Lynn's. Leon Waycoff (later Ames) has the almost "extra" role of Clifford Mulford who could have provided Graham with a much needed alibi but inconveniently went down with his plane. Another suspect who inadvertently drops Graham in it is "The Professor" (Edward Van Sloan) who has been visiting the doctor because of his headaches (he is almost blind) but when pushed by a disgruntled detective (Alan Dinehart, proving he could move with ease between slimy villains and jaded good guys) to make an identification, points to Graham as the culprit (even though all he sees is a blur). Or Willie the Squealer (John Wray, whose pop eyed looks made him a natural to play "crazies"!!). All the "usual suspects" are bought to the station where Graham agrees to help the police collar the real killer!!
Making the most of his small role is the flippant "Skeets" Gallagher as a reporter, as well as William Collier Snr. as yet another "had it up to here" detective and J. Farrell MacDonald as a hotel doorman.
"The Crosby Case" opens much like Wynne's earlier "The Crime of the Century" (1933) - a man staggers down the street, a quack doctor with a bullet in his body - but who is guilty?? The victim is Dr. Crosby, a shady medico who is more familiar with mal practice suits than actually practicing - there are veiled allusions that he may be an abortionist and a drug dealer, as later a patient confesses (guiltily) that he needs his "medicine"!! and at only 59 minutes it packs a lot of punch!!
The cast list appears in a novel way with stars given the billing of "Suspect One", "Suspect Two" etc. Could it be the confused cabby (Warren Hymmer) who almost runs him down? Maybe it is Crosby's mistress, Lynne Ashton (Gibson) who is hot footing it out of town with all her jewels ("they weren't worth it"!!) or even her guilty looking best friend (Barbara Weeks) or is it Francis Graham (handsome Onslow Stevens) an aviator and former flame of Lynn's. Leon Waycoff (later Ames) has the almost "extra" role of Clifford Mulford who could have provided Graham with a much needed alibi but inconveniently went down with his plane. Another suspect who inadvertently drops Graham in it is "The Professor" (Edward Van Sloan) who has been visiting the doctor because of his headaches (he is almost blind) but when pushed by a disgruntled detective (Alan Dinehart, proving he could move with ease between slimy villains and jaded good guys) to make an identification, points to Graham as the culprit (even though all he sees is a blur). Or Willie the Squealer (John Wray, whose pop eyed looks made him a natural to play "crazies"!!). All the "usual suspects" are bought to the station where Graham agrees to help the police collar the real killer!!
Making the most of his small role is the flippant "Skeets" Gallagher as a reporter, as well as William Collier Snr. as yet another "had it up to here" detective and J. Farrell MacDonald as a hotel doorman.